Friends, Foes, and Grass Court Glory

A Week of Upsets, Comebacks, and Record-Breaking Aces 🌱🏆

June 23, 2024

Welcome back to Latest Racquet, where the past week has flown by faster than a Raonic ace… This week we’re talking:

  • friends facing off 💪

  • a big week for US Tennis 🇺🇸

  • more domination by Jack 🇬🇧

But first…

This week’s big winners

London (ATP 500) — Tommy Paul 🇺🇸

Road to Victory: Musetti (6-1, 7-6(8)), Korda (6-4, 7-6(2)), Draper (6-3, 5-7, 6-4), Tabilo (6-3, 6-4), Baez (6-4, 6-4)

Halle (ATP 500) — Jannik Sinner 🇮🇹

Road to Victory: Hurkacz (7-6(8), 7-6(2)), Zhang (6-4, 7-6(3)), Struff (6-2, 6-7(1), 7-6(3)), Marozsan (6-4, 6-7(4), 6-3), Griekspoor (6-7(8), 6-3, 6-2)

Berlin (WTA 500) — Jessica Pegula 🇺🇸

Road to Victory: Kalinskaya (6-7(0), 6-4, 7-6(3)), Gauff (7-5, 7-6(2)), Siniakova (7-6(2), 3-6, 6-3), Vekic (6-4, 7-5)

Birmingham (WTA 250) — Yulia Putintseva 🇰🇿

Road to Victory: Tomljanovic (6-1, 7-6(8)), Cocciaretto (6-2, 6-2), Dolehide (6-3, 6-7(2), 6-1), Kalinina (6-3, 6-0), Burel (6-3, 6-4), Burel (6-3, 6-4)

Gaiba (WTA 125) — Alycia Parks 🇺🇸

Road to Victory: Pera (6-3, 6-1), Bandechi (6-3, 1-6, 6-3), Montgomery (6-7(7), 6-3, 6-4), Todoni (6-0, 6-2), Kalieva (7-6(5), 7-5)

Friends Facing Off

This week was full of match-ups between friends!

Zhang and Medvedev

Zhang pulled off the upset in Halle, beating Medvedev 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(5). The two were reportedly rommates as teenagers, but this was their first tour-level match. Zhang went on to lose to eventual winner Sinner in the semis.

Zhang was the first Chinese man to play in the main draw at Wimbledon in 2021. He is now also the first Chinese man in the Open Era to reach the semis of a grass court event.

Sinner and Hurkacz

Jannik was the winner in Halle this week, lifting his first trophy as world no. 1. But his oponent, Hubert, was also his doubles partner in Halle! The last time Hubert beat Jannik was in 2022. I think the carrots better come out for Wimbledon, because Jannik is looking like a favourite! 🥕 

Upset of the Week

Jack Draper continued his grass court success this week with a big win over Alcaraz in London. We must admit, though, that we’re wondering whether Alcaraz was feeling tired from his win at RG (or the celebratory clubbing afterwards 😂). Draper went on to lose to eventual winner Tommy Paul in the quarters. Overall, Draper is surely securing himself as a British hopeful at Wimbledon!

American Dream on Grass

US tennis had a very strong week, with 3 grass titles going to Americans. But the highlight was definitely Pegula…

Pegula won her first grass title in Berlin and it was no walk in the park! Firstly, she finished her semi-final match against Gauff on Sunday morning, then went straight to the final vs Kalinskaya in the afternoon. Then she saved 5 championship points to win 😳! On top of all this, Berlin was Pegula’s first tournament back after missing the entire clay season due to injury. I think Pegula can be more than happy with this result!

Other tidbits this week…

Raonic back with a vengeance! 💪

Milos’ huge serve was back in action and bigger than ever… With 47 aces, Milos set the record for the most aces ever in a 3-set match. WOW 😮

milos raonic good job GIF by Miami Open

Gif by miamiopen on Giphy

Wimbledon champ injured

Vondrousova took a tumble on the grass in Berlin and had to retire against Kalinskaya with an injured leg/hip…will the defending Wimbledon champ be back in only a week? 🤞

Muchova’s big return

After 10 months off tour due to a wrist injury, Muchova announced she is finally returning! She’ll be playing in Eastbourne, Wimbledon and the Olympics 🇨🇿! We are almost as excited as Swiatek ❤️ 

Motivation of the Week

Coming up this week…

ATP:

  • Majorca 250 (Top seeds: Shelton, Humbert, Mannarino, Tabilo)

  • Eastbourne 250 (Top seeds: Fritz, Paul, Bublik, Baez)

WTA:

  • Bad Homburg 500 (Top seeds: Sakkari, Samsonova, Navarro, Haddad Maia)

  • Eastbourne 500 (Top seeds: Rybakina, Pegula, Paolini, Keys)

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